top of page
Lifestyle & Cosmos
Welcome to Lifestyle & Cosmos—a blog by Sustainaverse for the curious, the conscious, and the creators.
We don’t believe in staying in one lane; instead, we bring together the things that make a modern life meaningful:
-
Sustainable Style: We’re obsessed with fashion that feels good and does good. From the latest in eco-friendly fabrics to the stories behind the labels, we explore how to build a better wardrobe.
-
Living Well: Simple tips for a more intentional life. Whether it’s choosing better products or finding a slower pace, we’re all about making "conscious living" feel easy.
-
Digital Balance: In a world of endless scrolling, we talk about the joy of deep reading and how to stay sane in a digital-first world.
-
The Startup Life: We go behind the scenes of what it truly means to be an entrepreneur.
-
Space & Beyond: Space isn't just for scientists! We look at how space exploration is changing our future on Earth and what it means for how we’ll live tomorrow.
Our vibe: We believe that the way we live today—from the clothes we wear to the tech we use—shapes the world of tomorrow.
Forget Dusty Narratives, Get to Know the Pioneers of Contemporary Indian Textiles
Social media has certainly given us the tools to connect with the unknown, but to believe that it can replace the depth of written archives is simply naive, if not devoid of complete and any synaptic connections.
Sumana Mukherjee
Mar 192 min read
From the Editor : Kriti's First Wedding Edit
When I requested Ria for the cover story, she immediately replied with 'Omg Yes!'—which is all you want to hear from a bride. What followed is weeks of trust in each other and in technology, to bring the wedding story of Lilabare's incredible designer from the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the deltaic plains of West Bengal.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20252 min read
Conscious Vows
Every motif in her wedding lehenga tells a story: elephants representing both Ria's love for the animals and the Amboseli Park ecosystem where they married, on the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The location itself was chosen for its resonance—Ria's husband first came to Africa through Tanzania's Peace Corps, spending two years in a remote village before eventually making his way to Kenya and to her.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20257 min read
Gunjan’s Strive for Excellence
On the occasion of National Handloom Day 2025, the Government of India and Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, presented Gunjan Jain, founder of Vriksh Designs, with the prestigious National Handloom Award 2024 for Design Development in the Handloom Sector. She also received recognition from the Hon’ble President of India, Shrimati Droupadi Murmu, along with co-national awardees at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20254 min read
The Exquisite Bride
The purple Paithani lehenga above with red temple motifs and hand-embroidered paisley designs demonstrates Asha Gautam's skill in combining multiple heritage elements. Paired with a Rangkaat Banarasi blouse and red Bandhani dupatta finished with zardozi-embroidered border, the ensemble brings together three distinct regional traditions from Maharashtra, Varanasi, Gujarat and Rajasthan—in sophisticated conversation rather than collision.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20254 min read
Panjabi and Shawl: The বাঙালি Dhuti's Best Men
You may not have seen any Bengali man being called Babumoshai in real life, but you are surely missing something if you have not attended a Bengali wedding or a Baithaki Adda where the men are dressed impeccably in silk Panjabis, paired with dhutis pleated with precision and often, a regal shawl draped across one shoulder.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20253 min read
Mangalashtak Meets the Thalikettu
A friend once told me inter-state weddings in India are the finest cultural exchange programs. Having been fortunate to attend wedding ceremonies spanning multiple cultures across the country, I couldn’t agree more. Meenakshi and Thujesh—a modern conscious Indian couple—brought together the rich traditions from their native lands of Maharashtra and Kerala to begin a lifelong journey. Sumana: Did you follow specific cultural rituals during your wedding? Meenakshi & Thujesh : W
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20254 min read
The Designer Who Will Never Break a Bride’s Heart
When you first experience an Amit GT creation, you might find yourself transported. Perhaps to a Parisian garden at dawn, or a Moroccan palace bathed in sunlight. This is the result of a designer who draws inspiration from both natural and human creations, while staying deeply connected to India's rich textile heritage.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20255 min read
Tying the Knot
Jaipur Rugs' Manchaha collection understands that what transforms a house into a home isn't just furniture placement or décor choices, but the presence of things that carry human intention within them. Each creation in the Manchaha collection represents the artistic vision of the artisan(s) involved, given complete freedom to create from imagination rather than instruction.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20254 min read
The Silk Chamber’s Golden Heirloom
The Silk Chamber's Muga Heirloom Collection understands this quiet power. In curating their range of Muga silk pieces, they've resisted the urge to over-embellish or modernize beyond recognition. The collection trusts the fabric itself to do the speaking, which is precisely what Muga silk has always done best.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20253 min read
When The Designer Became Her Own Muse
The wedding began with turmeric under fingernails and the scent of Earth thick in the morning air, a soft November light spilling across Gurugram and Delhi, where over three days an intimate, handcrafted celebration was created from the imagination of Anhad Bhullar Malhotra, the designer and founder of the Delhi-based label House of Hindee. Around the time she was gaining recognition for her refined understanding of textiles, Anhad was already designing her own wedding.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20254 min read
শাঁখা সিঁদুরের গল্প (The Story of A Bengali Wedding)
The rituals began the day before the wedding with Adhibas (aka Bastralankar), where the bride is gifted sarees and jewellery from the groom's side, and is then adorned with the traditional Shankhapola. This day felt significant as it was Surupa's last day as an unmarried woman with her friends and sisters. She mentioned a unique Bengali tradition where a decorated fish is sent from the groom's house, which must be cooked for their guests that day.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 7, 20254 min read
Handcrafted Treasures from the NorthEast
Swarna Raga Mekhela Sador - Striking red motifs reminiscent of precious rubies, contrasting beautifully with the golden base with intricate golden zari work on the borders and pallu.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 6, 20252 min read
Couture for the Squad
The modern bride seeks designers who understand this evolved dynamic—who can dress her in couture that claims the spotlight she deserves while ensuring her closest confidantes shine alongside her without dilution or compromise.
Enter Geisha Designs by Paras and Shalini, a luxury atelier that has decoded this complex equation with breathtaking precision, offering couture for both the bride and her squad that transforms wedding celebrations into curated ensembles of distincti
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 6, 20253 min read
Curated Stories Infused in Wax
Whifflore crafts curated fragrances for the mindful modern home, transforming simple wax into evocative narratives. Rooted in time-honoured Kolkata rituals and a commitment to ethical sourcing, these exclusive, high-quality candles are designed to elevate your everyday moments into profound sensory experiences.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 6, 20251 min read
DeviRupini's Vedic Weddings
First is the Ganga Mantra—meaning the entire area, the place where the wedding takes place, is purified. Then Āchaman (sipping water), Viṣṇu Smaraṇa (remembering Vishnu)—our wedding ceremony begins by taking Vishnu as witness and bowing to Vishnu. Then Sūrya Praṇām (salutation to the Sun), and then Svasti Vāchan—to ensure the ceremony is performed successfully and beautifully, we recite Svasti Vāchan. After that, we have Ghaṭasthāpan (installation of the pot).
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 6, 20254 min read
From The Editor : Kriti Handloom Edit 2025
There exists a group of humans in our Universe who could be credited for filling up the cosmic RAM with consciousness. This Handloom edition is a series of conversations with a subset of such people, responsible for filtering out noise and adding meaning to our sartorial
lives. Thanks to them, putting this together has been far from a challenge, making me wonder if ‘challenge’ itself has become a buzzword.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 5, 20252 min read
From The Editor : Kriti Magazine Launch Edition
The first magazine I wanted to publish was named Reverie. It was going to be about Indian crafts, music and cuisine. A few close friends with diverse skills and interests kindly agreed to collaborate. Somehow, the idea of that magazine became more about what we miss about India while living abroad, than what we wanted to create as an experience for our readers.
Sumana Mukherjee
Nov 3, 20252 min read
Looms of the Land : A Craft Research Initiative by NIFT Gandhinagar & Development Commissioner (Handlooms & Handicrafts)
The "Looms of the Land" saree collection speaks of traditional artisanship and contemporary design sensibilities, emerging from the collaborative efforts between the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Gandhinagar, and the Development Commissioner (Handlooms & Handicrafts). This project serves as a cornerstone initiative through NIFT’s Craft-based modules, designed to provide students with invaluable real-world
exposure while fostering deeper connections with Ind
Sumana Mukherjee
Oct 9, 20252 min read
How Laal Paar Sada Sari Became the Soul of Durga Pujo
It was traditionally on Ashtami that the laal paar sada sari made its most important appearance. This was when married Bengali women drape themselves in this specific sari for the special prayers and ceremonies of the day (Ashtamir Anjali). The white body represented purity and new beginnings, while the red border symbolized shakti—the divine feminine energy that Maa Durga herself embodied. The combination was considered especially auspicious for invoking the Goddess's blessi
Sumana Mukherjee
Sep 24, 20254 min read
bottom of page